Dubbing device for dubbing data

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a dubbing device for dubbing data from a portable first recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio) to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which dubbing to the second recording medium with a large capacity is automatically carried out when reproducing data from the first recording medium. When data is reproduced from the first recording medium, database means is searched on the basis of identification information for the first recording medium and execution control of dubbing is performed in accordance with the result of search for recording history information. For example, whether or not data to be reproduced from the first recording medium has been already recorded on the second recording medium is discriminated, and dubbing is carried out if the data to be reproduced data has not been recorded on the second recording medium.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/257,697, filed Jun.16, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,645, which is based on InternationalApplication PCT/JP02/01322 filed Feb. 15, 2002, pursuant to 35 USC 371,and is entitled to the priority filing date of Japanese application2001-039994 filed in Japan on Feb. 16, 2001, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a dubbing device for dubbing data from a firstportable recording medium such as a CD-DA (compact disc digital audio)to a second recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD).

BACKGROUND ART

As equipments which support recording media having audio data recordedthereon, CD players, and MD (Mini Disc) recorder/players using amagneto-optical disc with a diameter of 64 mm as a recording medium havebeen popularized.

For dubbing of audio data or the like on the user side, for example, anoperation to dub a tune recorded on a CD is carried out.

The dubbing function in a conventional audio equipment is performed as auser intentionally carries out the operation to record data of a CD toanother medium. That is, the user selects a CD or a tune recorded on aCD to be dubbed to an MD or the like, selects an MD to be used forrecording, loads the selected CD and MD, and carries out the dubbingoperation. The dubbing desired by the user is thus performed.

On the other hand, dubbing is not performed unless the user carries outany operation for dubbing. For example, if the device automatically dubsmusic to an MD loaded thereon when reproducing music from a CD, it isinconvenient for the user. That is, dubbing an unwanted tune and henceconsuming the recording capacity of the MD without the user's knowingmust be avoided.

However, as recording media used in audio systems are diversified andtheir recording capacities are increased, a new operation for thedubbing function is required. For example, if a recording medium on thedubbing destination side has a very large recording capacity, automaticdubbing by the device without user's operation will not be inconvenientfor the user.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing status of the art, it is an object of thepresent invention to realize automatic dubbing without requiring anyoperation by the user in a dubbing device for dubbing data from a firstportable recording medium such as a CD-DA to a second recording mediumhaving a very large capacity such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and thusimprove the usability for the user.

A dubbing device according to the present invention comprises:reproducing means for carrying out reproduction from a portable firstrecording medium; recording/reproducing means for carrying out recordingto and reproduction from a second recording medium having a largercapacity than the first recording medium; database means for managingidentification information and recording history information to thesecond recording medium, with respect to the first recording medium fromwhich reproduction is carried out by the reproducing means; and controlmeans for performing control to search the database means on the basisof the identification information for the first recording medium whenreproduction from the first recording medium is carried out by thereproducing means, and to cause the recording/reproducing means torecord data reproduced from the first recording medium to the secondrecording medium in accordance with the result of the search forrecording history information.

The control means performs control to discriminate whether or not thedata reproduced from the first recording medium has already beenrecorded on the second recording medium on the basis of the recordinghistory information, and to cause the reproduced data to be recorded tothe second recording medium if the reproduced data has not been recordedon the second recording medium.

One or a plurality of programs (tracks of tunes or the like) andmanagement information for managing the programs are recorded on thefirst recording medium, and the identification information is generatedon the basis of the management information.

One or a plurality of programs and management information of managingthe programs are recorded on the first recording medium, and therecording history information indicates the presence/absence ofrecording of each program to the second recording medium.

In this case, the control means performs control to discriminate whetheror not each program reproduced from the first recording medium hasalready been recorded on the second recording medium on the basis of therecording history information, and to cause a program which has not beenrecorded on the second recording medium to be recorded to the secondrecording medium.

If a whole program is recorded to the second recording medium, thecontent of the recording history information is updated to assume thatthe program has been recorded.

The reproducing means can change its reproducing status from a normalreproducing status to a special reproducing status at the time of datareproduction, and when the reproduction by the reproducing means ischanged to the special reproducing status, the control means stops therecording operation which is being carried out by therecording/reproducing means.

Particularly, in the case where the reproducing means can change itsreproducing status from the normal reproducing status to the specialreproducing status, when the reproduction of a program by thereproducing means is changed to the special reproducing status, thecontrol means stops the recording operation of the program which isbeing carried out by the recording/reproducing means and erases data ofthe program which was recorded before the stop of the recordingoperation.

Moreover, additional information associated with the first recordingmedium is recorded in the database.

In the dubbing device according to the present invention, whenreproduction from the first recording medium is carried out, the programrecorded on the first recording medium is automatically dubbed to thesecond recording medium.

By preventing a program which is recorded on the first recording mediumand dubbed once from being dubbed again to the second recording medium,an unnecessary dubbing operation and unnecessary consumption of thecapacity of the second recording medium are eliminated.

Furthermore, if the special reproducing status, for example, FF(fast-forward), REW (rewind), or AMS (automatic music sensor), iscarried out when reproducing a program (tune or the like) from the firstrecording medium and the status of the reproduced data is changed todisturb dubbing of the complete data, the dubbing is stopped and theincomplete data which has been dubbed halfway is erased, therebypreventing the incomplete data from remaining as the dubbed data.

Thus, automatic dubbing is carried out without causing any inconvenienceto the user and the dubbed data is made available to the user, thusimproving the usability.

The other objects of the present invention and specific advantagesprovided by the present invention will be clarified further from thefollowing description of an embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a dubbing device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a CD reproducing unit constituting thedubbing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an HD recording/reproducing unitconstituting the dubbing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an audio input/output unitconstituting the dubbing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a frame structure of the CDformat.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a subcoding frame of theCD format.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views showing sub-Q data of the CDformat.

FIG. 8 illustrates a TOC structure of the CD format.

FIG. 9 shows a database structure of the dubbing device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing by a system controller.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing by a CD controller.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing by the CD controller.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing by an HD controller.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing by the HD controller.

FIG. 15, is a flowchart showing the processing by the HD controller.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing the operation at the time of anall-track recording mode.

FIG. 17 shows the operation in the case where a stop operation is madeat the time of the all-track recording mode.

FIG. 18 shows the operation in the case where an FF operation is made atthe time of the all-track recording mode.

FIG. 19 shows the operation at the time of a partial track recordingmode.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in which the presentinvention is applied to a dubbing device for automatically dubbing to anHDD a program to be reproduced from a CD, that is, music data, which isalso called track. The description is made in the following order.

(1) Structure of Dubbing Device

(2) Structure of CD Reproducing Unit

(3) Structure of HD Recording/Reproducing Unit

(4) Structure of Audio Input/Output Unit

(5) Subcode and TOC of CD

(6) Database

(7) Processing by System Controller

(8) Processing by CD Controller

(9) Processing by HD Controller

(10) Exemplary Dubbing Operation

(11) Other Examples

(1) Structure of Dubbing Device

A dubbing device according to the present invention has a systemcontroller 1, a CD reproducing unit 2, an HD recording/reproducing unit3, an audio input/output unit 4, a operating unit 5, and a display unit6, as shown in FIG. 1.

The system controller 1, the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 can communicate various control signals CSto one another. For example, the system controller 1 transmits controlsignals CS to the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 and thus causes the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 to carry out required operations.

The CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 sendto the system controller 1 answer signals for the control signals,information such as the operating status, subcode and TOC, which will bedescribed later, and other necessary information.

The system controller 1 is made up of a microcomputer (including acomputer readable storage medium) and controls the operation of thewhole device by sending the control signals CS. The system controller 1is provided with an input from the operating unit 5. A power key, anejection key, a reproduction key, a pause key, a stop key, a tuneselection key, a recording key and the like are prepared on theoperating unit 5 and a user carries out arbitrary operations. Inaccordance with the operation by the operating unit 5, the systemcontroller 1 instructs the CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD reproducingunit 3 to carry out required operations, by the control signals CS.Moreover, the system controller 1 causes execution of an operation forthe user to designate a track number on a CD and instruct reproductionstarting with an arbitrary tune, that is, a so-called programmedreproduction for the user to designate the order of reproducing tunes,and an operation called shuffled reproduction to reproduce tunes in arandom order.

In order to input additional information, which will be described later,an operator which enables input of characters may be prepared on thesystem controller 1.

The display unit 6 is connected to the system controller 1, and thesystem controller 1 supplies display data to the display unit 6 so as tocarry out necessary display. On the display unit 6, for example, timeinformation such as the total play time, the lapse of time of a tunewhich is being played, the remaining play time of a tune which is beingreproduced and the remaining play time of the whole CD, and the tracknumber of a tune which is being played are displayed as informationrelated to the CD loaded in the CD reproducing unit 2.

In the case of a disc on which its disc name and track names (tunenames) are recorded, the disc name and track names are displayed on thedisplay unit 6.

The CD reproducing unit 2 is a part for loading a CD-DA thereon, whichis equivalent to a first recording medium, and reproducing data from theCD-DA. As will be later described in detail, audio data S1 (PCM digitalaudio data) reproduced from the CD is supplied to the audio input/outputunit 4 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3.

The CD reproducing unit 2 is a part which can reproduce music data froma disc of the CD format. While the CD reproducing unit 2 supports aCD-DA in this description, it can similarly reproduce music datarecorded on other types of discs of the CD format such as CD-R andCD-RW. As one type of CD-DA, there is a disc called CD text on whichtext data is recorded in a subcode. In this case, the text data isreproduced from the subcode along with the reproduction of music data.

Although a CD is used as the first recording medium in this embodiment,the first recording medium may be another type of medium such as an MD,memory card, or DAT (digital audio tape). In such a case, an MDreproducing unit, a memory card reproducing unit, a DAT reproducing unitor the like may be provided instead of or in addition to the CDreproducing unit 2.

The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is a part having an HDD as a secondrecording medium with a large capacity and adapted forrecording/reproducing data to/from the HDD. The HDD as the secondrecording medium has a very large capacity of, for example, several tensGB, compared with the CD as the first recording medium.

The structure of the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 will be describedlater. Audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 and audio data S2(PCM digital audio data) from the audio input/output unit 4 are inputtedto the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, and the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 records the audio data S1, S2 to the HDD. The HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 also outputs audio data S3 reproduced fromthe HDD to the audio input/output unit 4.

The audio input/output unit 4 is a part for inputting/outputting audiodata. The audio input/output unit 4 outputs audio data reproduced fromthe CD reproducing unit 2 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 to aspeaker system or other equipments and inputs audio data (digital audiodata or analog audio signals) supplied from other equipments. The systemcontroller 1 controls the input/output path of the audio input/outputunit 4 by a switch control signal CSW. The details will be describedlater.

(2) Structure of CD Reproducing Unit

The CD reproducing unit 2 has a structure as shown in FIG. 2. A disc 90is a CD loaded on the CD reproducing unit 2.

In the CD reproducing operation, the disc 90 is rotationally driven at aconstant linear velocity (CLV) by a spindle motor 22. Then, datarecorded on the disc 90 in the form of pits is read out by an opticalhead 23 and supplied to an RF amplifier 25.

To read out data from the disc 90, a laser diode as a laser lightsource, a photodetector for detecting reflected light, an objective lensas an output end of a laser beam, and an optical system for casting thelaser beam to a disc recording surface via the objective lens andleading its reflected light to the photodetector are provided in theoptical head 23, though not shown.

The objective lens is held to be movable in a tracking direction and afocusing direction by a biaxial driving mechanism.

The optical head 23 as a whole is made movable in a radial direction ofthe disc by a thread mechanism 24.

The RF amplifier 25 generates a focusing error signal and a trackingerror signal in addition to a reproduced RF signal.

These error signals are supplied to a servo circuit 27. The servocircuit 27 generates a focusing driving signal, a tracking drivingsignal and a thread driving signal from the focusing error signal andthe tracking error signal, and controls the operation of the biaxialdriving mechanism in the optical head 23 and the thread mechanism 24.

The servo circuit 27 generates the thread driving signal in accordancewith a low-frequency component of the tracking error signal and anaccess designation signal from a CD controller 21 and controls theoperation of the thread mechanism 24 to move the optical head 23. Theservo circuit 27 generates a spindle driving signal on the basis of aspindle error signal and a spindle kick/brake signal supplied from adecoder 26 or the CD controller 21, and controls the operation of thespindle motor 22.

The reproduced RF signal outputted from the RF amplifier 25 is suppliedto the decoder 26. The decoder 26 performs CIRC decoding or the like todecode the information read out from the disc 90 to digital audio dataS1 of 16-bit quantization and 44.1-kHz sampling. This digital audio dataS1 is supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 and the audioinput/output unit 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

The decoder 26 also extracts control data such as TOC and a subcode,which are supplied to the CD controller 21 and used for various control.The CD controller 21 is constituted by a microcomputer for controllingthe CD reproducing unit 2.

In reproducing the disc 90 (CD), management information recorded on theCD, that is, the TOC, must be read out. The CD controller 21discriminates the number of tracks recorded on the disc 90 and theaddress of each track in accordance with the management information andcontrols the reproducing operation. Therefore, when the disc 90 isloaded, the CD controller 21 reads out the TOC by carrying out thereproducing operation on the innermost side of the disc where the TOC isrecorded, then stores the TOC in, for example, an internal RAM, andrefers to the TOC in the subsequent reproducing operation of the disc90.

If the disc 90 is a CD text, text data is recorded in a subcode whichforms TOC data. The CD controller 21 reads this text data when readingthe TOC and stores the text data into the internal RAM. There is a modesuch that the text data is recorded in a subcode of a program area,instead of a so-called TOC area. In such a case, the text data is takenin together with subcode data extracted in accordance with the progressin reproduction of the program (tracks).

The CD controller 21 communicates various control signals CS to/from thesystem controller 1 and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, (HDcontroller 31 within the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, which will bedescribed later), as shown in FIG. 1.

For example, when an operation such as reproduction of the CD, FF(fast-forward), REW (rewind), AMS (automatic music sensor), pause orstop is carried out by the operating unit 5, the system controller 1sends such operation information to the CD controller 21. In accordancewith the operation information, the CD controller 21 controls each partof the CD reproducing unit 2 so that an operation intended by the useris executed.

The CD controller 21 sends the operating status of the CD reproducingunit 2, the TOC information and text information read from the disc 90,and the time information (address) and the like during the reproductionof the CD, to the system controller 1.

Having received such information transmitted from the CD controller 21,the system controller 1 grasps the operating status of the CDreproducing unit 2 and can cause the display unit 6 to perform variousdisplays as described above on the basis of the TOC and subcodeinformation.

The CD controller 21 sends and receives various information to and fromthe HD recording/reproducing unit 3 in the dubbing operation, a specificexample of which will be described later.

(3) Structure OF HD Recording/Reproducing Unit

The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is constituted as shown in FIG. 3.The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 has an HDD (hard disk drive) 32 asthe second recording medium with a large capacity. An HD controller 31is a controller for controlling the operation of the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3. Inside the HD controller 31, a mechanismcalled file system for realizing access, reading and writing to the HDD32 is provided. For example, it is a FAT32 file system.

The HD controller 31 communicates various control signals CS to/from thesystem controller 1 and the CD reproducing unit 2 (CD controller 21), asshown in FIG. 1. For example, in the automatic dubbing operation at thetime of reproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2, as will be describedlater, the system controller 1 gives a dubbing instruction and otherinstructions to the HD controller 31.

To the CD controller 21, the TOC information and text information readfrom the disc 90 for reproduction are sent. The TOC information and thelike are used for generation of and search for the identificationinformation of the disc in a database, which will be described later.

The HD controller 31 sends the operating status and information relatedto the dubbing operation to the system controller 1 and the CDcontroller 21.

Under the control of the HD controller 31, data is written to and readout from the HDD 32. Particularly, the digital audio data S1 reproducedby the CD reproducing unit 2 and the digital audio data S2 supplied fromthe audio input/output unit 4 are processed in a predetermined mannerand then recorded to the HDD 32. The recorded data is managed by theFAT32 file system. The recorded data is reads out by the HD controller31, supplied to the audio input/output unit 4 and then outputted.

For example, in the case where the user carried out an operation todesignate and reproduce a tune or the like recorded on the HDD 32 byusing the operating unit 5, the system controller 1 sends the operationinformation to the HD controller 31. Then, the HD controller 31 causesthe data of the designated tune or the like to be reproduced from theHDD 32 and supplies the data to the audio input/output unit 4 as audiodata S3.

As will be described later, a database is constructed on the HDD 32which has data corresponding to each CD in order to determine whether ornot the HD controller 31 carries out the automatic dubbing operation inreproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2.

The HD controller 31 can refer to and update the database stored on theHDD 32, when necessary.

An audio compression-encoding/decoding circuit 33 and a buffer memory 34are parts for processing recorded data and reproduced data on the HDD32.

The digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 or the digitalaudio data S2 from the audio input/output unit 4 is inputted to the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3. When the digital audio data S1, S2 isinputted, data compression processing is performed by the audiocompression-encoding/decoding circuit 33. For example, compressionprocessing of the ATRAC3 system is carried out. The compressed digitalaudio data is stored into the buffer memory 34 and recorded to the HDD32 under the control of the HD controller 31.

In reproduction from the HDD 32, data read out from the HDD 32 by the HFcontroller 31 is stored into the buffer memory 34. The data stored inthe buffer memory 34 is read out from the buffer memory 34 at apredetermined rate and data expansion processing is performed thereon bythe audio compression-encoding/decoding circuit 33. Thus, thecompression processing of the ATRAC3 system is canceled and theresultant data is outputted to the audio input/output unit 4 as thenormal digital audio data S3.

The compression system is not limited to ATRAC3 and may be othercompression systems such as MPEG audio. Alternatively, the data may berecorded to the HDD 32 without being compressed.

Moreover, the data recorded to the HDD 32 may be encrypted, and inreproduction, the data may be decrypted.

(4) Structure of Audio Input/Output Unit

The audio input/output unit 4 has an analog audio signal output terminal41, an analog audio signal input terminal 42, a digital audio dataoutput terminal 43, a digital audio data input terminal 44, D/Aconverters 45, 46, an A/D converter 47, a digital interface 48, andswitches 49, 50, as shown in FIG. 4.

The digital audio data S1 reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2 andthe digital audio data S3 reproduced by the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 are supplied to the audio input/output unit 4.

While the reproducing operation is being carried out by the CDreproducing unit 2, the system controller 1 connects the switch 49 to atc terminal by a switch control signal CSW.

Therefore, the digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 isconverted to an analog audio signal by the D/A converter 45, thensupplied to the output terminal 41 via the switch 49, and outputted asthe analog audio signal.

While the reproducing operation is being carried out by the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 the system controller 1 connects the switch49 to a th terminal by a switch control signal CSW.

Therefore, the digital audio data S3 from the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 is converted to an analog audio signal by the D/A converter 46,supplied to the output terminal 41 via the switch 49, and outputted asthe analog audio signal.

The analog audio signal from the output terminal 41 is amplified by apower amplifier and then outputted from a speaker or supplied to anotherequipment as a line output.

The digital audio data S1 reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2 andthe digital audio data S3 reproduced by the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 are also supplied to the digital interface 48. The digitalinterface 48 encodes the digital audio data S1 or S3 supplied thereto toa transmission data form as a digital interface format and outputs theencoded data from the output terminal 43. That is, the reproduced audiodata can be transmitted in the digital audio data form to anotherequipment.

The HD recording/reproducing unit 3 can record to the HDD 32 not onlythe digital audio data S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2 but also thedigital audio data S2 supplied from the audio input/output unit 4.Therefore, the audio input/output unit 4 outputs the digital audio dataS2 in the following manner.

First, in the case where an analog audio signal from an externalequipment is inputted to the input terminal 42, the analog audio signalis converted by the A/D converter 47 to digital audio data having asampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and the number of quantization bits of16. In this case, the system controller 1 connects the switch 50 to a taterminal by a switch control signal CSW. Therefore, the output of theA/D converter 47 is supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 asthe digital audio data S2.

In the case where digital audio data from an external equipment isinputted to the input terminal 44, the inputted data is decoded by thedigital interface 48. In this case, the system controller 1 connects theswitch 50 to a td terminal by a switch control signal CSW. Therefore,the output decoded by the digital interface is supplied to the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 as the digital audio data S2.

Moreover, the digital audio data S2 reproduced by the CD reproducingunit 2 can be supplied to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 as thedigital audio data S2 via the digital interface 48.

(5) Subcode and TOC of CD

A subcode recorded together with main data on a disc of the CD format,and TOC recorded in a lead-in area will now be described.

The minimum unit of data recorded on a disc of the CD format is oneframe. 98 frames constitute one block.

One frame has a structure as shown in FIG. 5.

One frame is made up of 588 bits. The leading 24 bits constitutesynchronous data and the subsequent 14 bits constitute a subcode area,followed by data and parities.

98 frames, each having this structure, constitute one block, and subcodedata taken out from the 98 frames are collected to form subcode data(subcoding frame) of the one block, as shown in FIG. 6A. The subcodedata from the leading first and second frames (frame 98n+1, frame 98n+2)of the 98 frames are synchronous patterns. The frames from the thirdframe to the 98^(th) frame (frame 98n+3 to frame 98n+98) constitutechannel data of 96 bits each, that is, subcode data of P, Q, R, S, T, Uand V. Of these, the P-channel and the Q-channel are used for managementof access and the like. However, the P-channel only indicates a pauseportion between tracks and detailed control is performed by theQ-channel (Q1 to Q96). The Q-channel data of 96 bits is constituted asshown in FIG. 6B. First, the four bits of Q1 to Q4 form control data,which is used for the number of audio channels, emphasis, CD-ROM, andthe identification as to whether digital copying is possible or not. Thenext four bits of Q5 to Q8 form ADR, which indicates the mode of sub-Qdata. Specifically, the four bits of ADR express the mode (content ofsub-Q data) as follows.

0000: mode 0 Sub-Q data is basically all-zero (though it is used in CD-RW) 0001: mode 1 Normal mode 0010: mode 2 Indicates the catalog numberof the disc 0011: mode 3 Indicates ISRC(International Standard RecordingCode) or the like 0100: mode 4 Used in CD-V 0101: mode 5 Used in amulti-session system such as CD-R, CD-RW or CD-EXTRA

The 72 bits of Q9 to Q80 following the ADR form sub-Q data, and theremaining bits of Q81 to Q96 form CRC.

The address is expressed by the sub-Q data in the case where the mode 1is indicated by the ADR.

The sub-Q data and the TOC structure in the case of ADR=mode 1 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7A, FIG. 7B and FIG. 8

The sub-Q data recorded in the lead-in area of the disc forms TOCinformation. That is, the sub-Q data of 72 bits Q9 to Q80 in theQ-channel data read from the lead-in area has information as shown inFIG. 7A. This FIG. 7A shows the details of the 72-bit sub-Q data portionin the structure of FIG. 6B in the lead-in area. The sub-Q data has dataof eight bits each and expresses the TOC information.

First, the track number (TNO) is recorded in the eight bits of Q9 toQ16. In the lead-in area, the track number is fixed to “00”.Subsequently, POINT (point) is described in the eight bits of Q17 toQ24.

Eight-bit sets of Q25 to Q32, Q33 to Q40, and Q41 to Q48 express MIN(minute), SEC (second), and FRAME (frame), respectively, as the lapse oftime in the lead-in area.

Q49 to Q56 are set to “00000000”.

Moreover, eight-bit sets of Q57 to Q64, Q65 to Q72, and Q73 to Q80record PMIN, PSEC, and PFRAME, respectively. The meanings of these PMIN,PSEC and PFRAME are determined depending on the value of POINT.

When POINT has values of “01” to “99”, the value of POINT indicates thetrack number. In PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME in this case, the start point(absolute time address) of the track having this track number isrecorded as minute (PMIN), second (PSEC) and frame (PFRAME),respectively.

When POINT has a value of “A0”, the track number of the first track isrecorded in PMIN. The specifications of CD-DA (digital audio), CD-I,CD-ROM (XA-specific) and the like are discriminated depending on thevalue of PSEC.

When POINT has a value of “A1”, the track number of the last track isrecorded in PMIN.

When POINT has a value of “A2”, the start point of the lead-out area isexpressed as the absolute time address (minute (PMIN), second (PSEC) andframe (PFRAME) in PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME, respectively.

For example, for a disc on which six tracks (six programs or six tunes)are recorded, data is recorded as shown in FIG. 8 as the TOC formed bysuch sub-Q data.

To form the TOC, all the track numbers TNO are “00”, as shown in FIG. 8.

Block NO. Indicates the number of one unit of sub-Q data read as blockdata (subcoding frame) made up of 98 frames as described above.

The same content is written over three blocks each, as the respectiveTOC data.

As shown in FIG. 8, when POINT has values of “01” to “06”, the startpoints of the first track #1 to the sixth track #6 are expressed inPMIN, PSEC and PFRAME.

When POINT has a value of “A0”, “01” is expressed in PMIN as the firsttrack number. The disc is identified in accordance with the value ofPSEC, which is “00” in the case of an ordinary audio CD. If the disc isCD-ROM (XA-specific), PSEC has a value of “20”.

When POINT has a value of “A1”, the track number of the last track isrecorded in PMIN. When POINT has a value of “A2”, the start point of thelead-out area is expressed in PMIN, PSEC and PFRAME.

With respect to the block n+27 and the subsequent blocks, the contentsof the blocks n to n+26 are repeatedly recorded.

In the program area and the lead-out area where tunes are recorded asthe track #1 to the track #n, the sub-Q data recorded therein hasinformation as shown in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7B shows the details of the 72-bitsub-Q data portion in the structure of FIG. 6B in the program area andthe lead-out area.

In this case, first, the track number (TNO) is recorded in the eightbits of Q9 to

Q16. That is, one of “01” to “99” is used as each of the tracks #1 to#n. In the lead-out area, the track number is “AA”. Then, an index isrecorded in the eight bits of Q17 to Q24. The index is the informationwhich enables subdivision of each track.

Eight-bit sets of Q25 to Q32, Q33 to Q40, and Q41 to Q48 express MIN(minute), SEC (second), and FRAME (frame), respectively, as the lapse oftime (relative address) in the track.

Q49 to Q56 are set to “00000000”.

Eight-bit sets of Q57 to Q64, Q65 to Q72, and Q73 to Q80 record AMIN,ASEC, and AFRAME, respectively. These are the minute (AMIN), second(ASEC) and frame (AFRAME) as the absolute address.

The absolute address is an address continuously appended from theleading end of the first track (i.e., the leading end of the programarea) to the lead-out area.

The subcode and the TOC formed by the subcode are basically constitutedas described above. The subcode may further include various information.

For example, in the case of a CD text, text information is stored byusing R to W of the above-described subcode data of P, Q, S, T, U, V andW.

(6) Database

The database used in the automatic dubbing operation of the presentinvention will now be described.

In the present invention, as data is reproduced from the disc 90 by theCD reproducing unit 2, the reproduced data is automatically dubbed tothe HDD 32 by the HD recording/reproducing unit 3.

However, the operation to constantly dub reproduced data is oftenunnecessary. For example, it is not preferred that the same data isdubbed again when the user reproduces the same CD or the same tune manytimes.

Thus, in the present invention, a database is constructed in the HDD 32in order discriminate whether or not dubbing has already been carriedout with respect to the disc 90 from which data is to be reproduced bythe CD reproducing unit 2.

This database can identify respective CDs having various titles and canalso perform management with respect to whether each track recorded oneach CD has already been dubbed or not.

That is, data of one file constituting the database corresponds to oneCD and the file contains as least identification information of the CDand recording history information indicating whether each track recordedon the CD has already been dubbed or not.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary file constituting the database, that is, adatabase file formed to correspond to a certain CD.

In this database file, identification information DID indicating aspecific CD and a recording flag indicating whether or not each trackhas already been dubbed are recorded. Moreover, track additionalinformation added to each track and disc additional information added toeach disc are stored.

The identification information DID is generated on the basis of the TOCdata of the disc 90 (CD). For example, it is now assumed that the CDhaving six tracks shown in FIG. 8 is loaded in the CD reproducing unit2. In this case, the CD reproducing unit 2 first reads out the TOC dataof the disc 90 and the TOC data is also transmitted to the HD controller31. The HD controller 31 forms the identification information shown inFIG. 9 by using the TOC data transmitted thereto. The identificationinformation DID shown in FIG. 9 uses the track number of each recordedtrack and the value of the address of its start point (PMIN, PSEC,PFRAME), as can be seen from the comparison with FIG. 8.

All the values of the TOC data, in which the number of tracks containedin the CD and the absolute time (start point) to start a track arewritten in the form of minute, second and frame, can hardly be the samein different CDs. Therefore, these TOC data can be the identificationinformation of CDs having specific titles. In this example, thischaracteristic is utilized to generate the identification informationDID of each file in the database.

As in the database file shown in FIG. 9, a recording flag correspondingto each track is provided. At the time of generating the database file,all the recording flags are off (=0). For each track, the recording flagis turned on (=1) every time dubbing to the HDD 32 is completed.

In the example of FIG. 9, it is shown that the tracks 2, 3 and 6 havealready been dubbed to the HDD 32.

As will be described later, the recording flag is turned on (=1) whenthe track (tune or the like) could be completely dubbed to the HDD 32.For example, if the tune could be dubbed only halfway, or iffast-forward was made on the reproducing side at a halfway point of thetune and hence the original reproduced data could not be dubbed, therecording flag is not turned on. That is, it is then considered that thetune has not been dubbed.

When there is additional information for a certain CD, or whenadditional information is inputted by the user or received and inputtedby some communication means, the additional information is stored intothe database file.

The additional information is, for example, text data, image data,management data and the like. The text data includes the name of thetune, the name of the artist, the lyrics, the names of parties concernedsuch as the name of the songwriter/composer, the name of the productioncompany and the like. The image data includes an image of the albumcover, an image of the artist, an impression image and the like. Themanagement data may include, for example, copyright managementinformation such as ISRC and the like.

For example, the disc 90 from which data is to be reproduced is a CDtext, the text data read out from the subcode can be stored into thedatabase file in association with the track or disc.

Of course, when the user arbitrarily inputs the name of the tune or thelike, it can be stored as additional information.

The additional information can also be used as the identificationinformation DID.

When a certain CD is reproduced for the first time by the CD reproducingunit 2, such a database file is generated corresponding to the CD and isregistered to the database.

When a CD for which the database file has already been generated isreproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2, the HD controller 31 generatesthe identification information DID from the TOC data transferred theretofrom the CD reproducing unit 2 and searches the database on the basis ofthe identification information DID and thus can confirm the existence ofthe database file corresponding to the CD. In such a case, it isdiscriminated from the recording flag whether each track of the CD hasalready been recorded or not.

(7) Processing by System Controller

The operation related to the automatic dubbing operation in the dubbingdevice according to the present invention will now be described.

In the following description, the processing by the system controller 1,the processing by the CD controller 21 and the processing by the HDcontroller 31 with respect to the dubbing operation will be firstdescribed with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15. After that, the flow ofspecific operations will be described as exemplary operations withreference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

First, the processing by the system controller 1 will be described withreference to FIG. 10.

At step F101, the system controller 1 monitors execution of an operationat the operating unit for a user to designate reproduction of a CD.

When the operation to designate reproduction is carried out, the systemcontroller 1 at step F102 sends operation information of the user to theCD reproducing unit 2 (CD controller 21) and gives an instruction totransfer TOC information of the disc 90 currently loaded in the CDreproducing unit 2 to the HD controller 31.

If the user simply carried out the operation to designate reproductionof the CD, the operation information is the reproducing operationinformation. In that case, the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproductionat the first track of the disc 90. However, if the user carried out thereproducing operation with a designated track number, also the tracknumber is sent as the reproducing operation information. In that case,the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproducing the track of the designatedtrack number.

If the user carried out a so-called programmed reproduction operation todesignate the order of tunes, also the information of the designatedorder of tunes is sent as the reproducing operation information.

If the user designated so-called shuffled reproduction to reproduce in arandom order, information to the effect that it is the shuffledreproduction operation is sent as the reproducing operation information.

As will be described later, as the system controller 1 at step F102instructs the CD controller 21 to transfer the TOC information to the HDcontroller 31, the CD controller 21 transfers the TOC information andthe HD controller 31 carries out database search and setting ofrecording mode on the basis of the TOC information transferred thereto.The HD controller 31 sends the result as a response to the systemcontroller 1.

The system controller 1 at step F103 waits for the response from the HDcontroller 31, and on receiving the response, the system controller 1 atstep F104 discriminates whether or not an all-track recording mode isset in the HD controller 31.

The recording modes set in the HD controller 31 include the all-trackrecording mode, a partial track recording mode, and a non-recordingmode.

The all-track recording mode is a mode in which automatic dubbing iscarried out for all the tracks of a CD to be reproduced.

The partial track recording mode is a mode in which automatic dubbing iscarried out for a part of the tracks of a CD to be reproduced.

The non-recording mode is a mode in which dubbing is not carried outbecause dubbing has already been carried out for all the tracks of a CDto be reproduced.

As will be described later, the HD controller 31 sets one of these modeson the basis of the result of the database search.

If all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, the systemcontroller 1 at step F105 instructs the HD controller 31 to startrecording, and at step F106, instructs the CD controller 21 to startreproduction. The CD controller 21 is also notified of the modeinformation set in the HD controller 31.

On the other hand, if the partial track recording mode or thenon-recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, the processing ofstep F105 is not carried out and the system controller 1 at step F106instructs the CD controller 21 to start reproduction and notifies the CDcontroller 21 of the recording mode.

The CD reproducing unit 2 starts the reproducing operation of the disc90 in response to the reproduction start instruction of step F106.During this time, the system controller 1 monitors the user operationand the reproducing status by using a loop of steps F107, F108 and F109.

If the user carried out an operation such as FF, REW, AMS or PAUSE usingthe operating unit 5, the system controller 1 goes from step F109 tostep F110 and notifies the CD controller 21 and the HD controller 31 ofthe operation information.

The CD controller 21 executes a required operation such as fast-forward,rewind, automatic music sensor, or pause in response to the operationinformation of FF, REW, AMS or PAUSE. In this specification, the statusdifferent from normal continuous reproduction, such as fast-forward,rewind, automatic music sensor or pause, is referred to as specialreproducing status.

The system controller 1 notifies the HD controller 31 of suchinformation because the dubbing operation must be interrupted when thespecial reproducing status is set in the CD reproducing unit 2.

If the user carried out a stop operation using the operating unit 5, thesystem controller 1 goes from step F108 to step F111 and notifies the CDcontroller 21 of the operation information. Then, the series ofprocessing ends. In this case, the CD controller 21 ends thereproduction of the disc 90 in response to the notification of the stopoperation.

If the reproduction of the disc 90 is completed to the end by the CDreproducing unit 2, the CD controller 21 sends a notification of CDreproduction to the system controller 1. When the notification is sent,the system controller 1 detects the notification at step F107 and endsthe processing.

(8) Processing by CD Controller

The processing by the CD controller 21 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

At step F201 of FIG. 11, the CD controller 21 waits for a reproductioninstruction from the system controller 1. That is, The CD controller 21waits for the reproducing operation information and the TOC datatransfer instruction send by the system controller 1 at step F102 ofFIG. 10.

As the instruction is detected at step F201, the CD controller 21 atstep F202 transfers the TOC data read with respect to the currentlyloaded disc 90 to the HD controller 31 in accordance with theinstruction from the system controller 1.

At step F203, the CD controller 21 sets a variable x to be the tracknumber of the first track to be reproduced. For example, if the usercarried out the normal reproducing operation, the variable x is 1. Ifthe user carried out the reproducing operation with a designated tracknumber, the variable x is set to be the track number designated by theuser.

If the user carried out the programmed reproduction operation(reproduction with a designated order of tunes), the variable x is setto be a track number designated by the user as the first tune.

If the user carried out the shuffled reproduction operation, the CDcontroller 21 selects a random track number and sets the variable x tobe this track number.

At step F204, the CD controller 21 waits for a reproduction startinstruction from the system controller 1.

At step F106 shown in FIG. 10, the system controller 1 sends thereproduction start instruction and the notification of the recordingmode to the CD controller 21. As these are detected at step F204, the CDcontroller 21 goes to step F205 and branches the processing inaccordance with the recording mode of the HD controller 31 which isnotified of.

If the non-recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, the processinggoes directly to step F211.

If the all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, theprocessing goes to step F206. However, since the recording at the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 is not being interrupted at the start ofreproduction, the processing goes directly to step F211.

If the partial track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, atthe time of starting reproduction of each track, the processing to setwhether or not the track is to be dubbed to the HDD 32 is performed atsteps F208, F209 and F210.

If the partial track recording mode is set, the HD controller 31 alsonotifies the system controller 1 of the track number of a track to bedubbed when notifying the system controller 1 of the mode. The tracknumber is also included in the notification of the mode (informationreceived together with the reproduction start instruction at step F204)from the system controller 1 to the CD controller 21. In short, the CDcontroller 21 grasps the track number of the track to be dubbed by theHD recording/reproducing unit 3.

Thus, at step F208, whether or not a track #x to be reproduced is atrack as a dubbing target is determined. If the track #x is a dubbingtarget, CD controller 21 at step F209 gives a recording startinstruction for the track #x to the HD controller 31 and then goes tostep F211. On the other hand, if the track #x to be reproduced is not adubbing target, the CD controller 21 at step F210 gives a recordingstandby instruction to the HD controller 31 and then goes to step F211.

As the processing goes to step F211, the CD controller 21 startsreproducing the track #x. If the user carried out the normal reproducingoperation, the reproduction is started at a track #1 at this point. Ifthe user carried out the reproducing operation with a designated tracknumber, the reproduction is started at the track of the track numberdesignated by the user. In the case of the programmed reproduction orshuffled reproduction, too, the reproduction is started at the firsttrack to be reproduced.

After starting the reproduction of the track #x, the CD controller 21monitors the reproduction progress status and the user operation byusing a loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

At step F212, the CD controller 21 monitors the completion of thereproduction of the track #x. At step F213, the CD controller 21monitors the execution of a stop operation by the user. At step F214,the CD controller 21 monitors the execution of an operation to designatea shift to special reproduction such as FF, REW or the like by the user.

As the reproduction of the track #x progresses and the reproduction ofthe track #x is completed, that is, for example, when the reproductionof the first tune ends, the CD controller 21 at step F212 detects thecompletion of the reproduction of the track #x and then goes to stepF215.

In this case of going from step F212 to step F215, one tune as the track#x has been reproduced from the beginning to the end in the normalreproducing status. In that case, a notification of completion ofreproduction for the track #x is outputted to the HD controller 31. Thenotification of completion of reproduction is information indicating tothe HD controller 31 that the track #x has been reproduced from thebeginning to the end normally (without being in the special reproducingstatus).

Next, at step F216, whether all the tracks to be reproduced has beencompleted or not with respect to the currently reproduced disc 90 isdetermined.

If the user carried out the normal reproducing operation and CDreproduction was carried out, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction of the last track recorded on the disc90 is completed. If the user carried out the reproducing operation witha designated track number, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction started at the track of the track numberdesignated by the user reaches the completion of the reproduction of thelast track. If the user designated the programmed reproduction, it isassumed that the CD reproduction is completed when the reproduction ofthe all the tracks designated in the order is completed. In the case ofthe shuffled reproduction, it is assumed that the CD reproduction iscompleted when the reproduction of all the recorded tracks is completed.

If the CD reproduction is not completed yet, the CD controller 21 goesto step F217 and substitutes the track number of the next track to bereproduced for the variable x. If the user carried out the normalreproducing operation or the reproducing operation with a designatedtrack number, a value obtained by adding 1 to the variable x up to then,that is, the next track number, is used. In the case of the programmedreproduction, the track number of the next track to be reproducedcorresponding to the tune order designated by the user is substitutedfor the variable x. In the case of the shuffled reproduction, a tracknumber is randomly selected from the track numbers of the tracks whichhave not been reproduced and the selected track number is substitutedfor the variable x.

Then, the processing returns to step F205 of FIG. 11.

Similarly, at step F205, the processing is carried out in accordancewith the recording mode of the HD-controller 31. Particularly in thecase of the partial track recording mode, whether or not a track #x tobe reproduced from now is a recording target is determined by theprocessing of steps F208, F209 and F210. If the track #x is a recordingtarget, the CD controller 21 instructs the HD controller 31 to recordthe track. If the track #x is not a recording target, the CD controller21 instructs the HD controller 31 to be on standby for recording.

If the all-track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, the CDcontroller 21 at step F206 determines whether the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 is on standby for recording or not. If itis on standby, the CD controller 21 at step F207 gives a recordingresumption instruction to the HD controller 31.

The processing goes to step F211 and the reproduction shifts to thetrack #x, that is, the next track. For convenience, the processing atstep F211 is described here as to “start reproducing the track #x”.Actually, however, in the case of reproducing in the order of the tracknumbers, or when shifting to the reproduction of the next track oncompletion of the reproduction of a certain track, the processing totemporarily stop and then resume the reproduction is not necessary. Inshort, the reproducing operation itself may be continuously carried out.However, in the case of the programmed reproduction or shuffledreproduction, when reproducing the next track, it is often necessary tointerrupt the reproduction and carry out an access operation of theoptical head 23.

If the user carried out an operation to designate the specialreproduction such as FF by using the operating unit 5 during thereproduction of the track #x, the operation information to that effectis sent from the system controller 1 to the CD controller 21 at stepF110 of FIG. 10. If the notification of the operation is sent, theprocessing by the CD controller 21 shifts from step F214 to step F218and executes the designated operation. That is, fast-forwardreproduction in the case of the FF operation, rewind reproduction in thecase of the REW operation, pause in the case of the PAUSE operation, oraccess to the leading position of the previous or next track in the caseof the AMS operation, is carried out in the CD reproducing unit 2.

When the designated special reproducing status ends, the processingshifts to a loop of steps F219, F220 and F221, and the CD controller 21resumes the normal reproduction (F220) and monitors whether thereproduction shifted to the leading end of the track or not (F219) andwhether a reproduction stop instruction is given or the completion of CDreproduction is reached (F212).

For example, if fast-forward or rewind is carried out in accordance withthe FF or REW operation, the normal reproduction is restored when theforegoing operation ends. If the leading end of the current track oranother track is reached in the state where the normal reproduction isrestored, the processing goes from step F219 to step F217 and the tracknumber of a track to be reproduced from that point is substituted forthe variable x. Then, the processing returns to step F205 and theabove-described processing is carried out to again set the reproducingstatus for the track #x from step F211. Then, the processing shifts tothe loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

If the completion of CD reproduction is reached at step F221 or the stopoperation by the user is notified of from the system controller 1 whenthe normal reproduction is restored from the fast-forward or rewindoperation, the processing goes from step F221 to step F222.

If the pause operation is carried out, a reproduction pause status isset in the CD reproducing unit 2 at step F218. As the user carries outan operation to cancel the pause, the processing shifts to the loop ofsteps F219, F220 and F221 and the normal reproduction is resumed.

After that, the processing is carried out in accordance with the resultof step F219 or F221 similarly to the case of fast-forward.

If the automatic music sensor operation is carried out by the AMSoperation, the leading position of the track is accessed at step F218.Therefore, it is determined at step F219 that the reproduction shiftedto the leading end of the track when the access ends. The processingthen goes to step F217 and the track number of the track for which theautomatic music sensor operation was carried out is substituted for thevariable x. The processing then returns to step F205 and theabove-described processing is carried out to again set the reproducingstatus for the track #x from step F211. Then, the processing shifts tothe loop of steps F212, F213 and F214.

At step F110 of FIG. 10, as described above, the system controller 1also gives the HD controller 31 a notification to the effect that theoperation to designate the special reproduction was carried out. As willbe described later, when it is determined that the special reproductionis to be carried out by the CD reproducing unit 2, the HD controller 31interrupts the recording operation which is being executed.

At the CD controller 21, in the case where the processing returns tostep F205 after controlling the special reproduction, if the all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31, it will be determined atstep F206 that the recording is being interrupted. Thus, at step F207,the CD controller 21 instructs the HD controller 31 to resume recordingand carries out reproduction of the track #x from step F211.

If the partial track recording mode is set in the HD controller 31, evenin the case where the processing returns to step F205 after the specialreproduction, the processing of steps F208, F209 and F210 is similar tothe above-described processing.

If a notification of the stop operation by the user is given by thesystem controller 1 during the reproduction of the track #x, theprocessing goes from step F213 to step F222.

If it is determined at step F216 that the CD reproduction is completed,again, the processing goes to step F222.

Moreover, if, after the normal reproducing status is restored from thespecial reproducing status, a notification of the stop operation by theuser is given from the system controller 1 or it is determined that theCD reproduction is completed, the processing goes from step F221 to stepF222.

When step F222 is thus reached, the CD controller 21 performs control toend the reproducing operation by the CD reproducing unit 2, and at stepF223, sends a notification of the end of CD reproduction to the systemcontroller 1 and the HD controller 31. That is, each unit is notified ofthe end of the reproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2. Then, theseries of processing ends.

(9) Processing by HD Controller

The processing by the HD controller 31 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15.

At step F301 of FIG. 13, the HD controller 31 waits for transfer of TOCdata from the CD controller 21. That is, the HD controller 31 waits forthe TOC data sent by the CD controller 21 at step F201 of FIG. 11.

When the TOC data is inputted, the HD controller 31 at step F302searches the database stored in the HDD 32. That is, the HD controller31 generates the identification information DID of FIG. 9 from thecontent of the inputted TOC data and uses the generated identificationinformation DID to search the database to determine whether there is adatabase file having the same identification information DID recordedtherein, of respective database files in the database.

A database file having the same identification information DID is foundin the case where reproduction of the disc 90 currently loaded in the CDreproducing unit 2 was also carried out in the past and hence thedatabase file for the disc 90 has already been prepared. On the otherhand, a database file having the same identification information DID isnot found in the case where reproduction of the disc 90 currently loadedin the CD reproducing unit 2 is now reproduced for the first time.

Thus, if the result of the search shows that there is no such databasefile, the HD controller 31 goes from step F303 to step F304. The HDcontroller 31 newly prepares a database file having the preparedidentification information DID appended thereto and adds this databasefile to the database.

In that case, with respect to the disc 90 from which reproduction is tobe carried out from now by the CD reproducing unit 2, none of the trackshas been dubbed yet. Therefore, at step F306, the all-track recordingmode is set and the HD controller 31 is caused to be on standby forrecording.

If such a database is found as a result of the search, the processinggoes from step F303 to step F305 and the HD controller 31 confirms therecording flag of that database file. If the recording flag is off forall the tracks, none of the tracks has been dubbed yet with respect tothe disc 90 from which reproduction is to be carried out from now by theCD reproducing unit 2. Therefore, the processing goes from step F305 tostep F306. In this case, too, the all-track recording mode is set andthe HD controller 31 is caused to be on standby for recording.

On the other hand, if the recording flag is on for all the tracks, allthe tracks have already been dubbed with respect to the disc 90 fromwhich reproduction is to be carried out from now by the CD reproducingunit 2 and dubbing is not necessary this time. Therefore, the processinggoes from step F307 to step F308 and the HD controller 31 notifies thesystem controller 1 of the non-recording mode. The processing then ends.

If the recording flag is on for some of the tracks and the other trackshave not been dubbed yet, the processing goes from step F307 to stepF309. The partial track recording mode is set and the HD controller 31is caused to be on standby for recording.

In the case where the all-track recording mode is set at step F306 orthe partial track recording mode is set at step F309 and the HDcontroller 31 is on standby for recording, the HD controller 31 at stepF310 notifies the system controller 1 of the recording mode thus set andthe recording standby status indicating the completion of thepreparation for recording. In the case of notifying of the partial trackrecording mode, the track number as a recording target (track number forwhich the recording flag is off) is also notified of.

In the case of the all-track recording mode, the processing goes to stepF311 of FIG. 14. In the case of the partial track recording mode, theprocessing goes to step F322 of FIG. 15.

First, the case of the all-track recording mode will be described.

The system controller 1 at step F104 of FIG. 10 waits for thenotification given by the HD controller 31 at step F310 or step F308. Asdescribed above, if the system controller 1 is notified of the all-trackrecording mode from the HD controller 31, the system controller 1 atstep F105 gives the recording start instruction to the HD controller 31.

The HD controller 31 at step F311 of FIG. 14 waits for the recordingstart instruction from the system controller 1, and at step F312, the HDcontroller 31 starts the recording operation in response to therecording start instruction. That is, in this case, since the systemcontroller 1 (at step F106 of FIG. 10) instructs the CD reproducing unit2 to start reproduction, the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproductionat step F211 of FIG. 12 and the reproduced digital audio data S1 isinputted to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3. The HD controller 31starts recording this inputted digital audio data S1 to the HDD 32.

After starting the recording operation, the HD controller 31 monitorsthe notification of the end of CD reproduction from the CD controller21, the information of the special reproducing operation from the systemcontroller 1, and the notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #x from the CD controller 21, by using a loop of stepsF313, F314 and F315.

As is understood from the processing by the CD controller 21 shown inFIG. 12, only if a certain track was reproduced from the beginning tothe end in the normal reproducing status by the CD reproducing unit 2,the CD controller 21 sends the notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #x at step F215. This means the completion ofthe recording of the track #x to the HDD 32. Therefore, the processinggoes from step F315 to step F316 and the HD controller 31 carries outprocessing to update the recording flag for the track #x to be turned onin the database file corresponding to the disc 90 which is currentlybeing reproduced.

Since the operation to record the inputted digital audio data S1 to theHDD 32 is continued, the processing returns to the loop of steps F313,F314 and F315.

Although not shown in the flowchart, if a recording error is generatedon the side of the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 during the recordingof the track #x and the track #x cannot be correctly recorded, therecording flag will not turned on.

If the user carried out an operation such as FF, REW or the like, the CDreproducing unit 2 is caused to be in the special reproducing statussuch as fast-forward reproduction, as described above. In this case, thecorrect and continuous digital audio data S1 is not inputted to the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 and the track #x cannot be appropriatelyrecorded. If the user carried out the operation such as FF, REW or thelike, the operation information is sent from the system controller 1(F110 shown in FIG. 10). As the HD controller 31 detects the operationinformation of the special reproduction at step F314, the processinggoes to step F317 and the HD controller 31 interrupts the currentlyperformed recording of the track #x to the HDD 32.

Moreover, at this point, since the recording of the track #x to the HDD32 has been carried out to a halfway part, the HD controller 31 at stepF318 erases the data of the track #x recorded to the halfway part to theHDD 32.

At step F319 or F320, the HD controller 31 waits for the recordingresumption instruction or the notification of the completion of CDreproduction from the CD controller 21.

As described with reference to FIG. 12, in the case where thereproduction from step F221 ends before the normal reproduction reachesthe leading end of a certain track after carrying out the fast-forwardoperation or the like in the CD reproducing unit 2, the CD controller 21sends the notification of the end of CD reproduction at step F223.

In this case, the processing by the HD controller 31 goes from step F320to step F321.

On the other hand, in the case where the normal reproduction reaches theleading end of a certain track after carrying out the fast-forwardoperation or the like in the CD reproducing unit 2, the processing bythe CD controller 21 goes from step F219 to step F217 and then to stepF205. The processing then goes to step F206 since the all-trackrecording mode is set in the HD recording/reproducing unit 3. In thiscase, since the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 is in the recordinginterrupted status, the CD controller 21 at step F207 gives therecording resumption instruction to the HD controller 31. Then, at stepF211, reproduction is started at the leading end of the next track #x.

In this case, the processing by the HD controller 31 returns from stepF319 to step F312 and recording is resumed. In short, the HD controller31 records to the HDD 32 the digital audio data S1 which is inputted asthe CD reproducing unit 2 reproduces the data from the leading end of acertain track.

When the reproduction is ended in the CD reproducing unit 2 by the stopoperation by the user or by the completion of CD reproduction, the CDcontroller 21 sends the notification of the end of CD reproduction atstep F223 of FIG. 12. As the HD controller 31 receives this notificationat step F313 during the recording, the processing goes to step F321.Also in the case where the HD controller 31 receives the notification ofthe end of CD reproduction at step F320 during the recordinginterruption (standby), the processing goes to step F321.

At step F321, the HD controller 31 ends the recording or the recordingstandby status and end the series of processing.

The processing by the HD controller 31 in the case where the partialtrack recording mode is set by the processing of FIG. 13 will now bedescribed with reference to FIG. 15.

If the response from the HD controller 31 is the partial track recordingmode at step F104 of FIG. 10, the system controller 1 at step F106 givesthe reproduction start instruction to the CD controller 21 and alsonotifies the CD controller 21 of the partial track recording mode andthe recording target track.

In this case, the HD controller 31 monitors the recording standbyinstruction, the recording instruction, or the notification of the endof CD reproduction from the CD controller 21, by using a loop of stepsF322, F323 and F324 of FIG. 15

As described with reference to FIG. 11, if the partial track recordingmode is set in the HD recording/reproducing unit 3, the CD controller 21discriminates at step F208 whether or not the track #x to be reproducedfrom now is a recording target to the HDD 32, at every timing ofstarting the reproduction of a certain track. Then, the CD controller 21sends the recording instruction (F209) or the recording standbyinstruction (F210) to the HD controller 31.

If the HD controller 31 received the recording instruction, theprocessing goes to step F323 to step F325 and the HD controller 31starts the recording of the track #x to be reproduced to the HDD 32.

On the other hand, if the HD controller 31 received the recordingstandby instruction at step F322, the recording standby status ismaintained and HD controller 31 waits for the notification of the end ofCD reproduction or the recording instruction for the next track by usingthe loop of steps F322, F323 and F324.

For example, in the case where not the first tune but the second tune tobe reproduced by the CD reproducing unit 2 is a recording target, the CDcontroller 21 gives the recording standby instruction to the HDcontroller 31 at the start of the reproduction of the first tune andgives the recording instruction at the start of the reproduction of thesecond tune. In that case, the HD controller 31 is on standby by usingthe loop of steps F322, F323 and F324 during the reproduction of thefirst tune. At the start of the reproduction of the second tune, theprocessing goes from step F323 to step F325 in response to the recordinginstruction and the HD controller 31 starts recording.

After starting the recording operation, the HD controller 31 monitorsthe notification of the end of CD reproduction from the CD controller21, the information of the special reproducing operation from the systemcontroller 1, and the notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #x from the CD controller 21, by using a loop of stepsF326, F327 and F328.

Only if the a certain track was reproduced from the beginning to the endin the normal reproducing status by the CD reproducing unit 2 inaccordance with the processing by the CD controller 21 of FIG. 12, theCD controller 21 sends the notification of the completion of thereproduction of the track #x at step F215. In this case, it is assumedthat the recording of the track #x as a recording target to the HDD 32has been completed. Therefore, the processing by the HD controller 31goes from step F328 to step F329 and the HD controller 31 carries outprocessing to update the recording flag for the track #x to be turned onin the database file corresponding to the disc 90 which is currentlybeing reproduced. Then, on completion of the recording of the track #xdesignated by the CD controller 21, the HD controller 31 is caused to bein the recording standby status at step F330 and the processing returnsto the loop of step of steps F322, F323 and F324.

Although not shown in the flowchart, in this case, too, if a recordingerror is generated on the side of the HD recording/reproducing unit 3during the recording of the track #x and the track #x cannot becorrectly recorded, the recording flag will not turned on.

Subsequently, the CD reproducing unit 2 proceeds to the reproduction ofthe next track. In this case, too, the recording instruction or therecording standby instruction is sent depending on the discrimination asto whether the track is a recording target or not. Therefore, the HDcontroller 31 starts recording at step F325 or is on standby forrecording by using the loop of steps F322, F323 and F324, in accordancewith the instruction.

If the user carried out an operation such as PF, REW or the like duringthe execution of the recording, the CD reproducing unit 2 is caused tobe in the special reproducing status such as fast-forward reproduction,as described above. In this case, the correct and continuous digitalaudio data S1 is not inputted to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3. Ifthe operation information of FF, REW or the like is sent from the systemcontroller 1 (F110 shown in FIG. 10), the processing by the HDcontroller 31 goes from step F327 to step F331, and the HD controller 31interrupts the currently performed recording of the track #x to the HDD32 and is caused to be in the recording standby status.

At this point, since the recording of the track #x to the HDD 32 hasbeen carried out to a halfway part, the HD controller 31 at step F332erases the data of the track #x recorded to the halfway part to the HDD32.

The processing returns to the loop of steps F322, F323 and F324 and theHD controller 31 waits for the next instruction or notification from theCD controller 21.

When the reproduction is ended in the CD reproducing unit 2 by the stopoperation by the user or by the completion of CD reproduction, the CDcontroller 21 sends the notification of the end of CD reproduction atstep F223 of FIG. 12. As the HD controller 31 receives this notificationat step F326 during the recording, the processing goes to step F333.Also in the case where the HD controller 31 receives the notification ofthe end of CD reproduction at step F324 during the recording standby,the processing goes to step F333.

At step F333, the HD controller 31 ends the recording or the recordingstandby status and end the series of processing.

(10) Exemplary Dubbing Operation

A specific example of the dubbing operation realized through theprocessing carried out by the system controller 1, the CD controller 21and the HD controller 31 as described above will now be described withreference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

To the operation shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the step numbers are appendedwhich correspond to the processing by the system controller 1, the CDcontroller 21 and the HD controller 31 described with reference to FIGS.10 to 15, and these step numbers are also used in the description withreference to FIGS. 16 to 19.

[In the Case where a CD is Normally Reproduced from the Beginning to theEnd in the All-track Recording Mode]

In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 16, the all-track recordingmode is set in the HD controller 31 and all the tracks from the firsttrack #1 to the last track #n of the disc 90 are normally reproduced inthe CD reproducing unit 2. That is, the user designates the normalreproduction from the first tune and does not carry out an operation toset the special reproducing status such as FF during the reproduction.

As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation by the user(F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information and a TOCdata transmission instruction to the CD reproducing unit 2 (CDcontroller 21) (F102).

In response to this, the CD controller 21 sends the TOC data of the disc90 to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 (HD controller 31) (F202).

On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches the database(F302). In this case, if there is no database file with identificationinformation DID, or if there is a database file with identificationinformation DID but all the tracks are unrecorded, the all-trackrecording mode is set (F306).

The HD controller 31 gives a notification to the effect that it is inthe recording standby status with the all-track recording mode, to thesystem controller 1 (F310).

In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, the systemcontroller 1 gives a recording start instruction to the HD controller 31(F105) and also gives a reproduction start instruction and anotification of the all-track recording mode to the CD controller 21(F106).

This causes the CD reproducing unit 2 to start reproduction (F211) andalso causes the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 to start recording(F312).

When the reproduction of the track #1 is completed, the CD controller 21sends a notification of the completion of the reproduction of the track#1 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

When the reproduction of the track #2 is completed, the CD controller 21sends a notification of the completion of the reproduction of the track#2 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #2 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

Similarly, with respect to the subsequent tracks, in response to thecompletion of the reproduction of one track and the completion of therecording to the HDD 32, the HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag for the track.

When the reproduction of the last track #n is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #n to the HD controller 31 (F215), and the HD controller 31turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track #n (F316). Atthis point, since the CD reproduction is completed, the CD reproducingunit 2 ends the reproduction (F222). Then, the CD controller 21 sends anotification of the end of CD reproduction to the HD controller 31 andthe system controller 1 (F223).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording (F321).

In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 16, all the tracks reproducedfrom the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2 are dubbed to the HDD 32and the recording flags for all the tracks are turned on in the databasefile corresponding to the disc 90.

That is, dubbing from the CD is carried out without the user'sawareness, and even if reproduction from the same CD is later carriedout again, the non-recording mode will be set in the HD controller 31,thus preventing execution of unnecessary dubbing.

[In the Case where the User Carries Out the Stop Operation during CDReproduction in the All-track Recording Mode]

In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 17, the all-track recordingmode is set in the HD controller 31 similarly to the above-describedexample, but the user carries out the reproduction stop operation duringthe reproduction from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2.

As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation by the user(F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information and a TOCdata transmission instruction to the CD controller 21 (F102). However,if, for example, the user designates the reproduction from the track #3,the operation information to that effect is sent to the CD controller21.

In response to the TOC data transmission instruction, the CD controller21 sends the TOC data of the disc 90 to the HD controller 31 (F202).

On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches the database(F302). In this case, if there is no database file with identificationinformation DID, or if there is a database file with identificationinformation DID but all the tracks are unrecorded, the all-trackrecording mode is set (F306).

The HD controller 31 gives a notification to the effect that it is inthe recording standby status with the all-track-recording mode, to thesystem controller 1 (F310).

In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, the systemcontroller 1 gives a recording start instruction to the HD controller 31(F105) and also gives a reproduction start instruction and anotification of the all-track recording mode to the CD controller 21(F106).

This causes the CD reproducing unit 2 to start reproduction (F211) andalso causes the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 to start recording(F312). Since the user designated the reproduction from the track #3,the CD reproducing unit 2 carries out the reproduction from the track#3.

When the reproduction of the track #3 is completed, the CD controller 21sends a notification of the completion of the reproduction of the track#3 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #3 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

The CD controller 21 continuously carries out the reproduction, and whenthe reproduction of the track #4 is completed, the CD controller 21sends a notification of the completion of the reproduction of the track#4 to the HD controller 31 (F215). In response to this, the HDcontroller 31 turns on the recording flag corresponding to the track #4(F316).

The reproduction is continuously carried out, and when the reproductionof the track #5 is completed, the CD controller 21 sends a notificationof the completion of the reproduction of the track #5 to the HDcontroller 31 (F215). In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns onthe recording flag corresponding to the track #5 (F316).

The CD reproducing unit 2 continuously carries out the reproduction ofthe track #6, and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 records thedigital audio data S1 of the track #6 to the HDD 32. It is now assumedthat the user carried out the stop operation during this time. As thesystem controller 1 detects the stop operation by the user (F108), thesystem controller 1 sends a reproduction stop instruction to the CDcontroller 21 (F111).

In response to this, the CD controller 21 ends the CD reproducingoperation (F222) and sends a notification of the end of CD reproductionto the HD controller 31 and the system controller 1 (F223).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording (F321).

In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 17, the tracks #3, #4 and #5reproduced from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2 are dubbed tothe HDD 32 and the recording flags for the tracks #3, #4 and #5 areturned on in the database file corresponding to the disc 90. As for thetrack #6, even though the data is partly recorded, the recording is notreflected as the completion of the recording on the database file.Therefore, the track #6 is managed as not being dubbed.

Thus, if the reproduction from the same CD is later carried out again,the partial track recording mode will be set in the HD controller 31 andthe tracks except for the tracks #3, #4 and #5 will be recordingtargets. Even if only the track #3 is reproduced many times, the track#3 will no longer be dubbed.

Although not shown in the processing by the HD controller 31 of FIGS.13,14 and 15, the data of the track recorded to a halfway part to theHDD 32 when the stop operation is carried out, for example, the data ofthe track #6 in the case of FIG. 17, may be erased from the HDD 32.

[In the Case where the FF Operation is Carried Out during CDReproduction in the All-track Recording Mode]

In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 18, the all-track recordingmode is set in the HD controller 31 similarly to the above-describedexamples, but the user carries out the FF operation during thereproduction by the CD reproducing unit 2.

The operations up to the start of reproduction by the CD reproducingunit 2 and the start of recording by the HD recording/reproducing unit 3after the user carries out the reproducing operation are the same asthose in FIG. 16 and therefore will not be described further in detail.

After the CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproduction (F211) and the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 starts recording (F312), first, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #1 to the HD controller 31 when the reproduction of thetrack #1 is completed (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

After that, it is assumed that the user carried out the PF operationduring the reproduction of the track #2 by the CD reproducing unit 2.

As the system controller 1 detects the FF operation by the user (F109),the system controller 1 sends the FF operation information to the CDcontroller 21 and the HD controller 31 (F110).

In response to this, the CD controller 21 executes fast-forwardreproduction (F218) and resumes the normal reproduction after thefast-forward operation ends (F220).

The HD controller 31 interrupts the recording operation in response tothe notification of the FF operation (F317). At this point, the track #2has been recorded to a halfway part to the HDD 32. Therefore, the HDcontroller 31 erases the data of the track #2 to the halfway part fromthe HDD 32 (F318).

After the CD reproducing unit 2 ends the FF operation and restores thenormal reproduction, when the reproduction reaches the leading end ofthe track #3, the CD controller 21 instructs the HD controller 31 toresume the recording (F207). In response to this, the HD controller 31resumes the recording operation (F312). That is, the HD controller 31starts recording the digital audio data S1 of the track #3 to the HDD32.

After that, when the reproduction of the track #3 is completed, the CDcontroller 21 sends a notification of the completion of the reproductionof the track #3 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #3 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F316).

The CD reproducing unit 2 continuously carries out the reproduction ofthe track #4, and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 records thedigital audio data S1 of the track #4 to the HDD 32. It is now assumedthat the user carried out the stop operation during this time. As thesystem controller 1 detects the stop operation by the user (F108), thesystem controller 1 sends a reproduction stop instruction to the CDcontroller 21 (F111).

In response to this, the CD controller 21 ends the CD reproducingoperation (F222) and sends a notification of the end of CD reproductionto the HD controller 31 and the system controller 1 (F223).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 ends the recording (F321).

In this exemplary operation shown in FIG. 18, of the tracks #1, #2, #3and #4 reproduced from the disc 90 by the CD reproducing unit 2, onlythe tracks #1 and #3 that are completely reproduced in the normal statusare dubbed to the HDD 32. That is, the recording flags only the tracks#1 and #3 are turned on in the database file corresponding to the disc90.

As for the track #2 for which fast-forward was carried out from itshalfway part, and the track #4 which was stopped at its halfway part,the recording is not reflected as the completion of the recording on thedatabase file. Therefore, the tracks #2 and #4 are managed as not beingdubbed.

Thus, if the reproduction from the same CD is later carried out again,the partial track recording mode will be set in the HD controller 31 andthe tracks except for the tracks #1 and #3 will be recording targets.Even if only the track #3 is reproduced many times, the track #3 will nolonger be dubbed.

[In the Case where Tracks #1 and #4 are Recording Targets in the PartialTrack Recording Mode]

In the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 19, the partial track recordingmode is set in the HD controller 31. For example, it is assumed thatfour tunes of tracks #1 to #4 are recorded on the currently loaded CDand that the tracks #2 and #3 were recorded to the HDD 32 in the past.The user carries out an operation to normally reproduce from the firsttune on this CD and all the tracks from the first track #1 to the lasttrack #4 on the CD 90 are normally reproduced by the CD reproducing unit2.

As the system controller 1 detects the reproducing operation by the user(F101), the system controller 1 sends operation information and a TOCdata transmission instruction to the CD reproducing unit 2 (CDcontroller 21) (F102).

In response to this, the CD controller 21 sends the TOC data of the disc90 to the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 (HD controller 31) (F202).

On receiving the TOC data, the HD controller 31 searches the database(F302). In this case, there is a database file with identificationinformation DID and the recording flags for the tracks #2 and #3 are onin the database file.

Thus, the HD controller 31 sets the partial track recording mode (F306),and gives the system controller 1 a notification to the effect that theHD controller 31 is in the recording standby status with the partialtrack recording mode and that recording target tracks are the tracks #1and #4 (F310).

In accordance with the response from the HD controller 31, the systemcontroller 1 gives a reproduction start instruction to the CD controller21 (F106). At this point, the system controller 1 also gives the CDcontroller 21 a notification to the effect that the partial trackrecording mode is set in the HD controller 31 and that recording targettracks are the tracks #1 and #4.

Since the track #1 which is to be reproduced first is a recordingtarget, the CD controller sends a recording instruction for the track #1to the HD controller 31 (F209).

The CD reproducing unit 2 starts reproduction at the track #1 (F211) andthe HD recording/reproducing unit 3 starts recording in response to therecording instruction (F325).

When the reproduction of the track #1 is completed, the CD controller 21sends a notification of the completion of the reproduction of the track#1 to the HD controller 31 (F215).

In response to this, the HD controller 31 turns on the recording flagcorresponding to the track #1 on the database file corresponding to thedisc 90 from which reproduction is being performed (F329). Then, the HDcontroller 31 enters the recording standby status (F330).

When starting the reproduction of the track #2, the CD controller 21gives a recording standby instruction to the HD controller 31 becausethe track #2 is not a recording target (F210). Therefore, the HDrecording/reproducing unit 3 does not record the track #2.

Similarly, at the start of the reproduction of the track #3, the CDcontroller 21 gives a recording standby instruction to the HD controller31 because the track #3 is not a recording target (F210). Therefore, theHD recording/reproducing unit 3 does not record the track #3.

When starting the reproduction of the track #4, the CD controller 21gives a recording instruction to the HD controller 31 because the track#4 is a recording target (F209). Therefore, the HD recording/reproducingunit 3 starts recording the track #4 (F325). After that, when thereproduction of the track #4 is completed, the CD controller 21 sends anotification of the completion of the reproduction of the track #4 tothe HD controller 31 (F215). The HD controller 31 turns on the recordingflag corresponding to the track #4 (F329) and then enters the recordingstandby status (F330).

At this point, since the CD reproduction is completed, the CDreproducing unit 2 ends the reproduction (F222). The CD controller 21sends a notification of the end of CD reproduction to the HD controller31 and the system controller 1 (F223). In response to this, the HDcontroller 31 ends the recording standby status and ends the processing(F333).

As in the exemplary operation shown in FIG. 19, in the case of thepartial track recording mode, only the tracks that have not been dubbedto the HDD 32, of the tracks reproduced from the disc 90 by the CDreproducing unit 2, are dubbed.

In the case of the partial track recording mode, too, if the FFoperation or the stop operation is carried out during the reproduction,the operation similar to the operation described with reference to FIGS.17 and 18 is carried out accordingly.

The embodiment of the present invention is described above. According tothe present invention, when reproducing data from a CD (disc 90), thedata is automatically dubbed to the HDD 32. However, with respect toeach track to be reproduced, the recording flag recorded in the databasefile is referred to and dubbing is performed only for a track which hasnot been dubbed yet.

Therefore, as the user reproduces data from a CD without being aware ofthe dubbing operation, the tracks recorded on the CD will beautomatically saved into the HDD and no duplicate dubbing of the sametune will be performed.

A track for which the special reproduction is performed or which isstopped during the reproduction is considered not to be dubbed.Therefore, the track will be dubbed at a later opportunity. In short,the complete track data is accumulated on the HDD 32.

Such an HDD 32 is automatically formed as a music server-without theuser's awareness. Therefore, with respect to a CD which was reproducedonce, the user can enjoy reproducing the tunes from the HDD 32 withoutloading the CD.

(11) Other Examples

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary structure and theexemplary operations in the above-described embodiment, and variousmodifications may be considered.

For example, in the case of the partial track recording mode, thoughwhether each track is to be dubbed or not is determined on the side ofthe CD controller 21 in the above-described example, it may bedetermined by the HD controller 31.

That is, the HD controller 31 can discriminate the currently inputtedtack number if the HD controller 31 constantly receiving the informationof the tack number (that is, subcode information) together with thedigital audio data. S1 from the CD reproducing unit 2. Therefore, the HDcontroller 31 can discriminate whether or not the inputted digital audiodata S1 is data of a recording target track, and may select execution ofrecording or standby in accordance with the result of thediscrimination.

The notifications and instructions transmitted between the systemcontroller 1, the CD controller 21 and the HD controller 31 in theabove-described processing are simply some examples and which controllersends or receives the notifications and instructions may beappropriately changed in accordance with the actual structure.

For example, the system controller 1 may monistically manage all theoperations so as to control the CD reproduction and the recording to theHDD 32.

The storage for the database is not limited to the HDD 32 and may be anon-volatile memory or the like.

The identification information DID for identifying each CD is notlimited to the information formed from the TOC data and may beadditional information or the manufacture number of the CD.

In the above-described embodiment, the dubbing device in which the CDreproducing unit and the HD recording/reproducing unit 3 are integrallyprovided is used. However, the dubbing device may also be formed byproviding these units as separate equipments and connecting them toenable dubbing.

The first recording medium is not limited to a CD and may be an MD, amemory card, a DAT or the like. Similarly, the second recording mediumis not limited to an HDD and may be a solid-state memory, another typeof disc-like medium, or a tape-like medium.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, when data is reproduced from theportable first recording medium, the data is dubbed to thelarge-capacity second recording medium. Particularly, when the data isreproduced from the first recording medium, the database means issearched on the basis of the identification information for the firstrecording medium, and execution control of dubbing is carried out inaccordance with the result of the recording history information found bythe search. For example, whether the data to be reproduced from thefirst recording medium has already been recorded to the second recordingmedium or not is discriminated, and if the data to be reproduced has notbeen recorded to the second recording medium, dubbing is carried out.

Therefore, as the user reproduced data from the first recording mediumsuch as a CD without being aware of the dubbing operation, the data isdubbed to the second recording medium such as an HDD. This improves theconvenience and eliminates any failure in the operation by the user.Particularly, by not performing dubbing in the case where the data hasalready been dubbed, unnecessary consumption of the capacity of thesecond recording medium can be avoided.

Since the second recording medium has a large capacity, it rarely occursthat the remaining capacity might be insufficient for the use by theuser because of automatic dubbing. In this respect, no inconvenience forthe user occurs. Since tunes and the like are saved to the secondrecording medium such as an HDD without the user's awareness, forexample, music server can be automatically prepared and arbitrarilyused. In this respect, the convenience for the user is improved.

As the identification information of the first recording medium in thedatabase is generated on the basis of management information formanaging the program in the first recording medium, for example, on thebasis of TOC data, each CD as the first recording medium can becorrectly identified and the appropriate dubbing operation can berealized.

Since the recording history information stored in the database isinformation indicating whether or not each program has been recorded tothe second recording medium, whether to execute automatic dubbing ofeach program (track such as tune) can be discriminated and the dubbingoperation with no waste can be thus realized.

Moreover, if a whole program was recorded to the second recordingmedium, the content of the recording history information is updated toassume that the program has been recorded. Thus, it is possibledetermine only the data that could be completely dubbed, as having beendubbed. For example, if the user reproduced a certain tune from a CD orthe like only to a halfway part, the tune can be dubbed to the halfwaypart to the second recording medium. By assuming such data as not havingbeen dubbed, it is possible to wait for a later opportunity for dubbingand to appropriately save only the tune that could be completely dubbed,on the second recording medium.

Also, if the special reproducing status such as FF is set during thereproduction of the first recording medium such as a CD, complete datacannot be recorded on the side of the second recording medium. In thatcase, however, by stopping the dubbing operation and erasing the dataleft in the incomplete status, it is possible to prevent the incompletedubbed data from being left and to prevent unnecessary dubbing.

Moreover, as additional information corresponding to the first recordingmedium is recorded to the database, various uses are possible, forexample, recording various information related to the first recordingmedium from which dubbing was performed and presenting the variousinformation to the user.

1. A method for recording programs from a portable recording medium to asecond recording medium, said method comprising the steps of: providinga database of (a) identification information corresponding to respectiveportable recording media and (b) recording history informationrepresenting those programs on a respective portable recording mediumthat have been recorded to the second recording medium and thoseprograms on said respective portable recording medium that have not beenrecorded to the second recording medium; searching the database on thebasis of the identification information corresponding to said portablerecording medium; determining whether a program has previously beenrecorded from the portable recording medium to the second recordingmedium; reproducing said program from the portable recording medium ifit is determined that said program has not previously been recorded tothe second recording medium; and recording the reproduced program to thesecond recording medium.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermination of whether a program has previously been recorded on thesecond recording medium is on the basis of the recording historyinformation.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein management informationfor managing the programs are recorded on the portable recording medium,and the identification information is based on the managementinformation.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reproducing stepchanges from normal reproducing to special reproducing at the time ofprogram reproduction, at which time the recording of the reproducedprogram stops.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein that portion of theprogram that was recorded prior to the change from normal reproducing tospecial reproducing is erased from the second recording medium.
 6. Acomputer readable storage medium for storing instructions that, whenexecuted by a processor performs the method of recording programs from aportable recording medium to a second recording medium, said methodcomprising the steps of: searching a database formed of (a)identification information corresponding to respective portablerecording media and (b) recording history information representing thoseprograms on a respective portable recording medium that have beenrecorded to the second recording medium and those programs on saidrespective portable recording medium that have not been recorded to thesecond recording medium, said searching being carried out on the basisof the identification information corresponding to said portablerecording medium; determining whether a program has previously beenrecorded from the portable recording medium to the second recordingmedium; reproducing said program from the portable recording medium ifit is determined that said program has not previously been recorded tothe second recording medium; and recording the reproduced program to thesecond recording medium.
 7. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein thedetermination of whether a program has previously been recorded on thesecond recording medium is on the basis of the recording historyinformation.
 8. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein managementinformation for managing the programs are recorded on the portablerecording medium, and the identification information is based on themanagement information.
 9. The storage medium of claim 6, wherein thereproducing step changes from normal reproducing to special reproducingat the time of program reproduction, at which time the recording of thereproduced program stops.
 10. The storage medium of claim 9, whereinthat portion of the program that was recorded prior to the change fromnormal reproducing to special reproducing is erased from the secondrecording medium.